CINCHONA CULTIVATION IN BENGAL. 345 
Sikkim. These are situated in the Rungbee Valley, which is about four 
ev 
to pieces the thin broad leaves of the red-bark trees ; the mischief oes 
done is, however, rapidly recovered from. The rainfall is heavy, but not 
in all parts of the valley . . . At the Rishap plantation 
hut (2000 feet above the sea), where a rain-gauge has been kept for some 
years, the average is shown to be about 120 inches; and as the mouth of 
the valley and the Teesta are a roached, the climate becomes ve much 
drier. It is in these drier parts that the extension of the planta- 
tion made during the past year has been carried on. 
* Condition of the Plantation.—The trees of red-bark Cinchona (C. 
succirubra), of which the plantation mainly consists, are, in my opinion, 
in a state of health which, on the whole, may be considered as satisfac- 
vi n 
throw out fine superficial rootlets, which ramify close to the surface of the 
ground, and for the very life of which protection from the sun's rays is 
necessary. 
“ Cinchona officinalis —The species yielding the crown bark of commerce 
has not answered well in any part of Sikkim; and so sickly were the 
plants at Rungbee during their visit in February, 1871, that the Com- 
mission i rt on the plantation recommended the abandon- 
ment of crown-bark cultivation. A large proportion of the plants of this 
species have died out, and over almost the whole area of permanent 
officinalis plantation, succirubra has been substituted. I am not without 
hope, however, tliat in drier spots than have hitherto been tried the 
species may yet be got to grow. Only 100,000 plants of officinalis are 
« Cinchona Calisaya.—The plant yielding the yellow bark of commerce 
and a sort second to none in value, promises to do well in Sikkim. From 
hitherto been slow. few 
This is scrupulously saved for sowing, and every effort is bein 
extend the cultivation of this most valuable species, which, with succirubra, 
must be our stand-by in Sikkim. There are now about 50 acres of 
Calisaya planted out, but I hope before next year greatly to enlarge the 
